Cape Camera December 2015 by Cape Town Photographic Society

CAPE CAMERA December 2015 Official Newsletter of the

Cape Town Photographic Society

In this issue 2

Making top AVs

Infrared explained

Annual prize-giving

Marcus Jooste macro

125th Birthday dinner

November competition

Landscape judging

RPS visitors

December competition

Diary of outings

CTPS Anniversary Salon

Interclub news

Muller exhibition

From the council News flashes

November-December 2015

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News from the council

his is the last issue of Cape camera for 2015 and we have reached the end of our activities for the year. 2015 had many highlights, especially those from our 125th anniversary celebrations, and we can look back on a very successful year, which was enjoyed by members. Next year we are going to make sure that we follow the example set in 2015 and we are planning a lot of regular and diverse activities for members to enjoy. Lesley Parolis finalised her set subject proposals for 2016, got them approved by council and already posted it on the website. The set subject for January is animal portraits and need to be uploaded by 13 January in time for our competition meeting a week later. Please note that the February competition evening will only be two weeks later — so you don’t have much time to enter. Make sure you plan your set subjects by looking at the list on the website and on page 16. New appointments

It is with regret that we have to announce the resignation from council by Robert Maginley, due to personal reasons. Nellian Bekker agreed to take over the AV portfolio, and has been co-opted on council. She will put together a team to support her and we wish them good luck. Their first meeting will take place on the 27th of January. For some time council have been hearing complaints about the way we handle visitors and new members. People felt that we did not always make it clear that we welcome them to attend our meetings and join our society. Quite a number of council members are busy during meetings

coming vistors at future meetings. As before, these are only two meetings planned for January and there will be no E&D evening.

Outing on 2 January

Nellian Bekker is the new AV convenor. Below: John Spence to welcome visitors.

and cannot take on the responsibility of coordinating such activities. Ultimately, it remains the responsibility of all members, but we felt that we need some co-ordination and have approached John Spence to help us with that. It has always been a passion of his and he was kind enough to accept the responsibility of wel-

But, Richard Goldschmidt has worked out a full and very interesting programme for the year. There are already two outings planned for January – an outing to the minstrel carnival on 2 January and to Killarney for motor racing on the 16th of January. More information on that will be made available through Snapshots and the website. Also see page 24 for more information about outings planned for the year. The website will also be updated soon. Our E&D programme will start in February with a talk on bird photography by Vernon Chalmers, and the rest of the programme will be on the website soon. So, you can see that council has already done a lot of work planning for next year, but we also have to give attention to long term developments. Three years ago members spent a day discussing various issues that CTPS should — or should not —be doing. Several task teams were formed, which tackled these issues, and came up with solutions. Council then decided that CTPS should strive to have an event where members can contribute to strategic developments every three years. We placed this on the council agenda at our last meeting and will spend more time on it at our next meeting in January. We should be in a position to announce how we want to do it this year. We wish you a happy festive season. Nicol du Toit

On the cover

Editorial Team

“Misty Sunrise near Greyton” is one of a series of images captured on The Oaks Estate near Greyton in October this year,” says Lesley Parolis. “I am part of a wonderful group of eight photographers called the Full Spectrum Photographic Club and all of us are members of CTPS. This trip to Greyton was led by Paul Bruins and we spent three days photographing the wonderful landscapes that area has to offer. There were many opportunities for creating images of beautiful reflections. My image was shot at close to 7 AM with a Nikon D800 at 30mm, f14, ISO 100, at 1/20 sec on a tripod. I processed it in Adobe Lightroom and then in Photoshop for final finishing.

Audio-Visual:

www.ctps.co.za

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Joy Wellbeloved

Competitions: Lesley Parolis Copy editor: E & D:

Anna Engelhardt

Kim Stevens

New members: Joy Wellbeloved Outings:

Richard Goldschmidt

Photo genres:

Margaret Collins

Salons & PSSA:

Nicol du Toit

Snapshot:

Andre Mouton

Top Ten Tips:

Steffne Hughes

Layout:

Trudi du Toit

Cape Town Photographic Society

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November-December 2015

CTPS news flashes

New member Murphy with a chirp on his shoulder JOY WELLBELOVED talked to one of our new members, L H Murphy Kleinschmidt, and found that he is an enthusiastic and avid amateur photographer. Murphy matriculated from DF Malan High School in Bellville, and then joined the SAPS from 1989 - 1998. “During the nine years after leaving the SAPS, I ran a corporate branding company in Port Elizabeth with my wife. We manufactured clothing, silk screening, embroidery, corporate gifts, managing large corporate events, promoting brand awareness and the like,” he says. “I’m a self taught graphic designer and embroidery digitizer. “In 2007, I thought it was time for a change and went to Afghanistan as an international development contractor to the US State Department and USAID. This lasted eight years, until the end of 2015.” He is now semi-retired, keeping himself

busy doing short term consultancy work for a large American company with projects in Central Asia, as well as advising small and medium South African based companies on processes, systems and man-

agement principles. “I am also taking some time out to complete my masters degree in project management at the University of Liverpool. “I have been happily married to my darling wife, Mary, for more than two decades and we have a beautiful daughter, Maryanne, who is a musical theatre actress, singer and qualified tap and musical theatre teacher.” They have been living in the Northern suburbs of Cape Town for the last four years. “ I have been an avid amateur photographer for many years and hope to increase my skill level with the assistance of the CTPS,” he concludes.

New members welcomed

If you joined CTPS recently, and would like to get to know other members quickly, please send a short article with a picture introducing yourself to Joy Wellbeloved at joy.wellbeloved@telkomsa.net, telling us who you are, what you like to photograph, when the bug first bit you, and anything else you think we may be interested in. In November, Ludwig Kleinschmidt joined (see above) and in December Eben Human and Sue Grant became new members.

Place your orders, please

CTPS is in the process of finalising two publications for early next year. It will be a tremendous help to prepare the print orders if you could please give us an indication of the interest by letting nicol@sportstrader. co.za know if you would be interested in or-

dering any of the following: • The 125th Anniversary Salon Catalogue: close to 100 pages featuring all the winning images as well as the acceptances. •125 Year Anniversary Book, covering the history of the society, juxtaposed with images and articles about our celebrations.

Monthly meetings

Meetings are held in the St Stephens Church Hall Central Square, Pinelands, at 7pm. 1st Wednesday: Competition 2nd Wednesday: Audio-visual 3rd Wednesday: Education & Development.

Month

Competition

E&D

20 3

27 10

No E&D

January February

CTPS Contact details:

Contact person: Jacoba van Zyl Email: info@ctps.co.za Website: www.ctps.co.za Facebook : Cape Town Photographic Society

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Cover photographer

“I have always had an interest in photography and learnt much from my husband Lambe, who has been a keen photographer for many years,” says Lesley Parolis, who took the photograph used on this issue’s cover. “Seven years ago I did my first photographic course, DSLR1, at the Cape Town School of Photography and followed that up with DSLR2 the next year. “Once that course was over, a group of fellow students decided that we needed to keep in contact and the concept of a small photo club (Full Spectrum PC) was born. “It has gone from strength to strength in the last 5 years and we now have eight members comprising Anna Engelhardt, Kathy Priday, Sue Docherty, Jean Bradshaw, Joan Ward, Pat Scott, Kim Stevens and myself. “We continue to inspire each other. Photography is our passion and we love to share our knowledge, experiences and images with each other and with the wider community. “CTPS has been a large part of my life for four and a half years now and it has been a very enriching journey”.

CTPS council members

President Vice-president Honorary Secretary Honorary Treasurer Property Manager Education & Development Competitions Convenor Audio-visual Convenor Public Relations Website

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Nicol du Toit Richard Goldschmidt Jacoba van Zyl Melanie Neethling Detlef Basel Kim Stevens Lesley Parolis Nellian Bekker Anna Morris Lesley Parolis

Cape Town Photographic Society

November-December 2015

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Pat Scott receiving the PSSA medal for ser- PSSA president Francois Rousseau ad- Johan Kloppers, giving CTPS his best wishes, dressing the audience. with his wife Marietjie (right). vice from Detlef Basel.

What a memorable 125th birthday!

Our VIP guests contributed to the enjoyment of our 125th anniversary gala dinner, which was nearly derailed by the student protests, reports TRUDI DU TOIT. Photos ANNA MORRIS and NELLE DU TOIT CLAASSEN

he year-long careful planning of the gala dinner to celeFrancois says he enjoys club photography for “the camaraderie brate CTPS’s birthday exactly 125 years after the society and sharing with other people. When I became involved with a was founded on 30 October 1890, was nearly derailed club, ‘I saw the light’ and enjoyed photography even more.” by the #FeesMustFall student campaign. Four days beHe became involved with club photography when he and his wife fore the party, to which we invited special guests RPS Petro, a health professional who works for the SA National Aids President Walter Benzie and his wife Susy, PSSA President Francois Council, lived in Nelspruit. He joined the Nelspruit Photographic Rousseau and his wife Petro, and PSSA Western Cape Director Jo- Society in 2006 and was elected chairman in 2009. han Kloppers and his wife Marietjie, we were informed that the His work as a Geo-Information Science Professional – the work venue would no longer be available. On the Tuesday before our sounds as complicated as the name implies and involves a lot of Friday evening function the Cape Peninsula University of Technol- precision geographical research and community engagement – ogy announced that they were closing all campuses for the week eventually took him to Johannesburg, where the Rousseau’s joined – including our Granger Bay Hotel School venue. the Midrand Camera Club. But, as we came to expect of her, Pat Scott pulled out all the stops Both Rousseau’s are soft-spoken, but have a twinkle in the eye to find an alternative venue, which ofand an easy laugh ... and one gets the impression fered all the facilities we required without PSSA president Francois that the new PSSA president can put his foot firmbreaking the bank or required council to Rousseau gave CTPS ly, but politely, down when necessary. Serving as approve a new budget: Rashid Latif’s Cavolunteers and ‘giving back’ to society clearly form club a PSSA gold medal a big part of their make-up – and self-promotion petonian hotel where CTPS held meetings during 2009 and enjoyed several happy for Service to Photog- does not: when accepting our invitation to attend raphy, because CTPS the dinner, Francois said “it will be a great honour year-end prize-giving functions. And, probably because of the relief that played a huge role in for me and my wife to attend.” a near-disaster was averted, our birthday promoting photography Soon after joining the Nelspruit club, Francois celebration was a happy, joyful occasion, also joined the PSSA and was elected to the board over the past 125 years punctuated by frequent peals of laughter. of directors in 2009, in charge of managing inforNobody there could doubt that the PSSA mation systems. His dedication was recognised medal for service presented to Pat that evening was not thoroughly and he was soon elected to the path that led to him taking over well-deserved. from Jill Sneesby as President in August this year: he served as 2nd New PSSA President Francois Rousseau – who like Walter Benzie Vice-President (the current incumbent is Francois Roux) and then (see next page) and CTPS president Nicol du Toit, was elected this became 1st Vice-President (currently Anne d’Oliviera). year – also gave the whole CTPS club a PSSA gold medal for Service Francois holds an APSSA distinction in digital photography and is to Photography, because “CTPS played a huge role in promoting actively involved in salon and club judging. He is passionate about photography over the past 125 years,” he said, thanking us for the photography and takes great pleasure in promoting and practising positive influence the society has had, and is still having, on the the art form. Over the years he has taken photos of many photodevelopment of photography in South Africa. graphic genres, but his favourites remain landscapes and street pho-

www.ctps.co.za

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Cape Town Photographic Society

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November-December 2015 Right: CTPS president Nicol du Toit with Johan Kloppers’ birthday gift: a personalised coffee mug to commemorate CTPS and the 2016 PSSA Congress in Langebaan.

CTPS Life members from left Neels Beyers, Henk Mulder, Sibyl Morris, David Gray, Jenny Powis, Detlef Basel and Ian Levy attended the celebrations.

tography. He is currently working on a project photographing Main Street in Johannesburg, close to his office in the Carlton Centre. “We don’t realise how privileged we are to be able to travel far and wide,” he commented, recounting a recent eye-opening, yet inspirational, experience he had in Johannesburg: The area around Jeppe station, which had been the focus of many xenophobic attacks, also has a photographic club (not affiliated to the PSSA) which organised an exhibition of photographs taken by their mainly high school members.

Travel with photographs

CTPS members from the back left: Paul Nuttal, John Spence, Jeanette Brusnicky, Mike and Annde de Vries, Barbara and Brian Halloc and Julie Dyer.

“The idea behind it was to help them develop an identity and the kids had to tell why they took a specific photo.” A 15-year old took a photograph of the station, because he said he wanted to travel. He also said that the furthest he has ever travelled was to Pretoria – and how excited he was to go to the Carlton Centre. “These kids’ lives consist of a couple of blocks,” he said. Yet, the people around them inspired them. CTPS received our first birthday gift from Johan Kloppers: a personalised mug, featuring the CTPS and 2016 PSSA Congress in Langebaan logos as a reminder that this congress will be dedicated to CTPS’ 125th anniversary. He thanked CTPS “for what you do to help clubs in the region and being always willing to support other clubs.” Johan has been the PSSA Regional Director since 2009, but wants to retire after organising the PSSA congress in Langebaan at the end of August next year – a follow-up to the successful congress he organised there in 2012.

Joined CTPS

Francois and Petro Rousseau came from Pretoria to attend the event. Left: Keith and Alison Bull are CTPS ‘swallows’ who live in Cape Town and England.

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His association with CTPS dates back to 1979 when he settled in Fish Hoek after qualifying as a dentist in Pretoria. A keen photographer since his school days at Hugenote Boys High in Springs, he had joined the PSSA in 1975, before moving to Cape Town, where he became a CTPS member... but remained a dedicated Blue Bulls supporter. He later became a leading figure in the Fish Hoek Photographic Society and is known countrywide as a top wildlife photographer, with a special passion for the Kgalagadi. Apart from winning many awards, his wildlife panel gained him a Fellowship distinction from the PSSA this year. Johan fondly remembers CTPS members like Ted Dickinson, “one of the biggest gentlemen”, Roy Johannessen and Eric Vertue who built the society. “They would have been so proud to see how strong their society has grown and in what good hands it is today,” says Johan. “I feel at home here at CTPS,” he added, commenting on the friendships that have been built of over the years. “We are proud and honoured to have the oldest club in South Africa in our region, and that is why we have dedicated our congress next year to CTPS.”

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Cape Town Photographic Society

November-December 2015

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Members enjoying Walter Benzie’s speech.

Jeanette du Toit shaking the hand of the man who shook the hand of the man who shook the hand of Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Charmed by the Royal Photographic Society

Attending the CTPS anniversary dinner was the first overseas assignment for new RPS President Walter Benzie, who came, saw and conquered us with charm. Photos:NELLE DU TOIT CLAASSEN

oyal Photographic Society president Walter Benzie He graciously referred to the similarities between the founding is a man of pleasant surprises. The thought of host- members and principles of CTPS and The Photographic Society, ing the president of one of the world’s oldest photo- as the RPS was known when it was founded on 20 January, 1853 graphic societies with 11 000 members, 400 volun- – namely astronomers, scientists and prominent photographers tary and 20 full-time workers, which operates under forming a society for people interested in the art of photography. a Royal Charter, owns of the foremost photographic But, with arguably one of the finest war photographers, Roger Fencollections in the world and gives awards to recipients that will ton, as a founding member, and an invitation to Henry Talbot to befill the Who’s Who of photography, was a bit daunting - to say the come its first president, the RPS was operating in a slightly different least. His Scottish ancestry and occupation as a chartered account- league. Interestingly, the formation of the society was delayed for ant further added to the expectation of meeting a VIP that you several years until an agreement could be reached with Talbot to rewould address as Sir — and then only when first spoken to. lax his restriction on amateurs using his patent ‘for their own amuseInstead, Walter and his wife Susy enchanted ment’ (read the fascinating history on www.rps. us with their wit, sense of humour and genuWalter and his wife Susy org/about/history). ine appreciation of being back in Cape Town, The Benzie’s birthday gift to CTPS on behalf where they spent so many happy years during enchanted us with their of the Royal Photographic Society, Portfolithe late 1960’s and early 1970’s. It felt like wel- wit, sense of humour oTwo, a beautiful coffee table book about the coming long-lost friends back. and genuine apprecia- RPS, shows why it is so revered in world phoWalter’s hearty and infectious laugh set the tion of being back in tography. tone of our gala birthday dinner and his skill Even though Queen Victoria and Prince AlCape Town as raconteur made us feel part of his world bert, who were fascinated by the photographs where photographers like Don McCullum, Brythey saw at the Great Exhibition of 1852, bean Adams, Steve McCurry and Annie Leibovitz, cinematographers came patrons of the society in 1854, the name was only changed like Tim Webber and Sir David Attenborough and an astrophysicist to the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) in 1894. Since 2004, the and musician like Brian May CBE (like most of us, Walter also didn’t RPS operates under a Royal Charter granted by the present Queen, know he was a founder member of pop group Queen when he met which states the objectives and the way it is run. him) are proud recipients of RPS honorary fellowship medals. The RPS was also not the world’s first photographic society as of“I have waited nearly fifty years to join your club,” he jested in ten assumed – but is the oldest organised society in the world to his speech, referring to the time he spent in Cape Town. First, from continuously function for 162 years. 1966 to 1970, as a bachelor sharing a house in Constantia with two “Photography is a lonely pursuit, and we therefore need the oxyfellow auditing clerks from Syfrets and again from 1972 to 1976 gen of sharing images to make us improve and therefore we need with Susy, when they lived in a flat in Clifton. While Walter was to become involved in groups and clubs across the world,” said working for the auditing firm Ernst & Young, which had taken over Walter, who eloquently made a case for CTPS members to join the Syfrets, Susy employed her creative skills at a packaging company, large RPS overseas membership (they have a substantial discount since the Conde Nast magazine group she worked for as a copy- for over 65’s and under 25’s). Only individuals can join the society. writer in the UK was not yet active in South Africa. Our Malcolm Jones is a member who enjoys receiving the month-

www.ctps.co.za

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Cape Town Photographic Society

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November-December 2015

Past and present CTPS presidents Detlef Basel and Nicol du Toit flanking Royal Photographic Society president Walter Benzie. Top right: Event organiser Pat Scott sharing a joke with Walter and Susie Benzie. Right: Richard Goldschmidt, Robert Maginley, Judith Dodds, Sean and Melanie Neethling, Francois Rousseau, Andre Wijne and Ariane Jenssen listening to Walter Benzie. Bottom right: The Benzies greeting CTPS members.

ly prestigious and impressive journal, outsourced by the RPS to be produced by professionals. Prominent CTPS members of the past Eric Vertue, Raymonde Johannesson, Alice Mertens and Fred Harris gained Fellowships of the RPS, considered to be the highest distinction in world photography As a member of the RPS Licentiate Distinctions panel – his most prestigious position so far, Walter claims - he also encouraged other CTPS members to enter their panels to apply for RPS distinctions. They have awarded 3 500 licentiateships, which is the hallmark of any competent photographer, he claims, 3 000 Associateships (including one to Walter) and 814 Fellowships (Walter has an honorary Fellowship). The distinction panels are judged live and any member of the public can attend by paying an entrance fee. Despite his prominence as photographer, Walter chuckled goodhumouredly when a young waiter adjusted his camera and told him cheekily that “his settings were not right” when asked to take a group photo that included Walter. He had joined his first photographic club at school in Edinburgh, where he spent many hours in the darkroom staining his fingers in developers, stop baths, fixers and toning baths, he remembers. While studying and building a career and then supporting a young family, he had less time for photography, but about twenty years ago he again became an enthusiast. This is an interest Susy understands as her grandfather was a good photographer and her father had a photographic store, which enabled him to shoot many rolls of film, while everybody else had to plan shots carefully. Apart from being involved with their local Chichester Camera Club (founded in 1893), Walter served as treasurer of the RPS between 2009 and 2013, and then served as Vice-president for a twoyear stint, before being elected President earlier this year. He may only serve as President for one two-year term, and must thereafter vacate all council positions “to give the next fellow free reign” to run the society. His attendance of the CTPS birthday dinner was his first overseas assignment as president. Soon after becoming President in September, Walter shifted

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the focus to the work done by fellow-trustees and employees in his editorial letter to members (we were not aware of this when CTPS made the same change around the same time). “I am just a spokesperson,” he says, stressing that the individual council members (trustees) and employees should receive acknowledgement for their work. He is also acutely aware that the council members are custodians of the society, members’ interests (including funds!) and their rich history. The Benzies came, charmed and will hopefully come back to Cape Town soon so that Susy can compare our tennis courts to those in Chichester (where she is the doubles champion) and Walter can judge one of our competition evenings, as he offered. It was great fun, and indeed a pleasure, to shake the hand of the man who shook the hand of the man who shook the hand of the man who shook the hand of Henri Cartier-Bresson.

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Cape Town Photographic Society

November-December 2015

-8Right: ‘Aloe pollenation’ won a PSSA silver medal for Margaret Collins in the cate-

gory Macro Prints

Nicol du Toit and Lesley Parolis (back) assist the judges with selecting the prints winners. Right: ‘Face to Face’ won won the PSSA silver medal (first prize) for Jeanette du Toit in the Open Prints category.

CTPS prize-winners

Best image – PSSA Silver medal Margaret Collins: Aloe pollenation in the category Macro Prints Jeanette du Toit: Face to Face in the category Open Prints Runner up – CTPS Silver medal Jeanette du Toit: Paphiopedilum in the category Macro Prints Kim Stevens: Frozen Fairway in the category Open Prints Best image by a CTPS member – CTPS bronze medal Jenny Powis: After the Rain in the Category Macro Digital Jacoba Van Zyl: Clivia in the Category Macro Prints Keith Bull: Twixt Dream and Reality in the Category Open Digital Kim Stevens: Cite Metro in the Category Open Prints Malcolm Jones: First seconds of a new life in the Category Photojournalism Digital Joan Ward: Riders practicing for WP trials in the Category Photojournalism Prints Hannelore Seifart: Abandoned Dreams in the category AV Documentary, plus Faraway Land in the category AV Open. Certificate of merit Joy Wellbeloved: Dianthus in the Category Macro Digital. The following CTPS members also got acceptances for print or PDI images: Lambe Parolis (7), Shaun Laishley (7), Jeanette du Toit (6), Kim Stevens (5), Anna Engelhardt (4), Joan Ward (4), Lesley Parolis (4), Jenny Powis (3), Julie Dyer (3), Malcolm Jones (3), Jacoba van Zyl (2), Pat Scott (2), Jean Bradshaw (1), Joy Wellbeloved (1), Nicol du Toit (1) and Trudi du Toit (1). In the AV category the following members got acceptances: Nellian Bekker (2) and Jeanette du Toit (1).

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CTPS succeed in tough salon challenge CTPS members not only performed very well in our 125th Anniversary Salon, but the organisers excelled with the logistics challenge. Photos at the exhibition by ANNA MORRIS

he organisers of the CTPS 125th Ken Woods and Joy Welbeloved manned Anniversary Salon received sev- the computers. Carin Hardisty, assisted eral letters of appreciation for the by Louise de Lange from Swartland Fotosmooth running of the salon. grafieklub, handled the prints and Trudi du The logistics proved to be quite a challenge Toit organised the catering. for the organising team that consisted of saThese volunteers, together with the judglon director Nicol du Toit, assisted by Lesley es, ensured the success of the salon. Parolis handling the three PDI sections, AnThe judges picked 341 acceptances in the tenie Carstens the three print sections and print and PDI sections and 10 in the AV secNellian Bekker the two AV sections. tions. More than 70 of those were submitAbout 230 people entered more than 1 ted by 18 CTPS members. 700 images and 40 These acceptances AVs. are all being exhibThe judging took The CTPS 125th Anniver- ited at the Cape Town place at the Cape sary Salon printed cata- Central Library in the Town School of Pho- logue is bound to become arts section during tography on Saturday a collectors’ item December. The open31 October. A total ing and awards funcof 24 judges were intion was held on the volved. To ensure that CTPS members who 3rd of December. entered could be eligible for awards, they all The digital and printed catalogues are had to be non-members of CTPS and they now being designed and will be ready to came from all over the region – Wolseley, be sent to people who ordered it soon. It Malmesbury, Hermanus and Fish Hoek, to is rare to find printed catalogues being proname but a few. duced for national salons these days. The judging took place in five separate This fact, together with our 125th anniverrooms – two for the two AV sections, two sary being a special event in CTPS history, will for the three PDI sections and one for the make sure that it will become a collector’s prints. Quite a few of our members were in- item as soon as it is issued. If you haven’t orvolved in the judging process: Richard Gold- dered your copy yet, please contact Nicol du schmidt, Melanie Neethling, Jacoba van Zyl, Toit on nicol@sportstrader.co.za.

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Cape Town Photographic Society

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November-December 2015

Left:

‘Paphiopedilum’ won the CTPS silver medal (runner-up) for Jeanette du Toit in the category Macro Prints.

Right: CTPS bronze medal winners Joan Ward and Malcolm Jones. Left: The CTPS silver medal in the category Open Prints was awarded to Kim Stevens for ‘Frozen Freeway’. Right: Lesley and Lambe Parolis, who got seven acceptances, talking to AV convenor Nellian Bekker. Below: Jenny Powis and Keith Bull (right) receiving their CTPS bronze medals from PDI convenor Lesley Parolis.

Medal winners from other clubs

Jacoba van Zyl, who won the CTPS bronze medal for her entry Clivia in the category Macro Print, with Nicol du Toit.

Jeanette du Toit, who won PSSA silver and CTPS silver medals and got six acceptances, with Lesley Parolis.

Margaret Collins (left) entered one image — Eric Thorburn’s son (left) accepted the Aloe Pollination — and won the PSSA silver CTPS silver medal for AV documentary, on medal in the Macro Print category. behalf of his father.

www.ctps.co.za

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Macro Digital Best image - PSSA Silver medal - Butterfly 1, Chris Swanepoel. Pietersburg Fotografie Klub Macro Digital Runner up - CTPS Silver medal - Halfway, Geo Jooste. Bloemfontein Kameraklub Open Digital Best image - PSSA Silver medal - In the mist, Charlaine Gerber. Witbank Photographic Society Open Digital Runner up - CTPS Silver medal - An Elephant Portrait, Tania Cholwich. AFO Photography Club Photojournalism Digital Best image - PSSA Silver medal - High seas E, Eileen Covarr. Knysna Photographic Society Photojournalism Digital Runner up - CTPS Silver medal - Little water Big fire, Renee Storme. Vanderbijlpark Fotografiese Vereniging Photojournalism Prints Best image - PSSA Silver medal - Don Quiote Scene, Aubrey Siebert. Southern Suburbs Camera Club Photojournalism Prints Runner up - CTPS Silver medal - Perfect Wave, Aubrey Siebert. Southern Suburbs Camera Club

Cape Town Photographic Society

November-December 2015

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More salon winners cont. from p9

AV winners from other clubs

AV Open winner – PSSA silver medal: Incest Without by Daleen Engelbrecht from George. AV Open runner-up – CTPS silver medal: Shoes De&Cathy Spock4 by Daleen Engelbrecht from George. AV Open Certificate of Merit: Le Chant du Violon by Adri van Oudheusden of Port Elizabeth Camera Club * AV Documentary CTPS Silver medal: Gaudi’s Legacy by Eric Thorburn from AV Makers SA * No PSSA silver medal was awarded in the Documentary category.

CTPS bronze medal winners: Above is ‘Riders practicing for WP trials’ (Photojournalism Prints) by Joan Ward. Far left is ‘Twixt Dream and Reality’ (Open Digital) by Keith Bull. Left: After the Rain (Macro Digital) by Jenny Powis. More CTPS bronze medal winners: Far left Clivia (Macro prints) by Jacoba Van Zyl. Left is Cite Metro (Open prints) by Kim Stevens. Below is ‘First seconds of a new life’ (Photojournalism digital) by Malcolm Jones. Left: Gaynor Donovan, new members Christo and Marleen le Grange and Francois du Bois, president of Tygerberg Photographic Society, Keith Bull, Jacoba van Zyl, Marius Stockenstrom (standing) and Ariane Jenssen, Johan Greeff and Malcolm Jones (seated).

Pat Scott, Detlef Basel, Barbara Basel and Joy Wellbeloved at the salon exhibition opening in the city library.

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Left: Joan Ward and Jean Bradshaw listening to Nicol du Toit announcing the prize winners in the CTPS 125th Anniversary Salon.

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Cape Town Photographic Society

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August Stauch near Pomona from ‘Abandoned Dreams’.

November-December 2015

Himba girl from Hannelore Seifarts’s AV on Kaokoland.’

Making winning AV’s

JOY WELLBELOVED motivated the CTPS AV artists who hadwinning entries in the CTPS 125 Anniversary Salon to share the stories and experiences behind the making of their winning AV’s

“W

hen we (Heiner and I) started planning our trip to Namibia this year, my mind was set on producing an AV about the diamond history around Kolmanskop, Pomona and the surrounding areas, says Hannelore Seifart, author of Abandoned Dreams, the CTPS bronze medal winner in the Documentary category. She recounts the experience as follows: “En route we visited our dear friend, Michael Krafft, on his farm near Windhoek. “He is also the grandson of August Stauch, who picked up the first diamond in the Namib Desert in 1908. What better source for first-hand information for my AV! “We chatted for hours and looked at countless historical black and white photos — an enormously valuable source for my project. The diamond Sperrgebiet, Kolmanskop, and Pomona — fascinating names calling to be explored. “Our excitement grew as we purchased a so-called photographer's permit in Lüderitz, allowing entrance to the nearby ghost town from sunrise to sunset, the times to be determined by yourself. “We started on our venture just after sunrise — totally alone with no other soul in sight! It was eerie, with hushed sounds, tiny animal tracks and snake trails visible in the sand. As the sun came up, the mood inside the deserted rooms constantly changed: lights and shadows playing their games, any photographer's delight. “The camera clicked away for hours, until other visitors arrived for their short guided tours, only to disappear again at midday. “As the sun set, hundreds of images later, it was a most awesome and eerie setting again, with small animals appearing to take shelter inside the desolate buildings of the ghost town.

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“To really experience the history of those frantic diamond days, we took a day-trip from Kolmanskop to Pomona through the extremely harsh, desolate and totally deserted Namib Desert. As to be expected the cameras worked overtime again!

Far away land Hannelore Seifart also shared some insights into the making of A far away land (Kaokoland), the CTPS Bronze medal winner in the Open category: “Kaokoland is a faraway land bordering Angola in the northwest of Namibia, an area of rugged high mountains, dry and sandy riverbeds and only the semi-nomadic Himba tribe making a living in their old traditional ways. “Our camping trip led us to this area, only reachable by 4x4 vehicle. It was a slow-going trip, sometimes only managing 80-100 km in 12 hours, carefully negotiating rocks and deep sand, which can literally let you sink into the powdery dust up to your knees. “The landscape is extremely varied, very high mountain ranges appearing in all shades of blue in the distance. Vast open spaces with no vegetation at all, but still home to wildlife, like gemsbok, springbok and others. “In the far north the Kunene River with palm trees along its banks make for amazing camping. And then there are the desert adapted elephants, not easy to find, but so rewarding to observe. Kaokoland is an experience that makes you want to visit again, and again and again.”

Future AV events

In future issues we’ll be publishing information of interest to AV makers, and possibly tempting folk who have not yet made an AV to give it a try. Please send all ideas for topics to Joy Wellbeloved The PECC International Salon: Port Elizabeth Camera Club is celebrating their 125th anniversary in 2016 with an International Salon that closes on 15 March 2016. There is only one category — Open. The PECC brochure is already on the PSSA website.

ups, which gained Acceptance in the Open category: “My main purpose in making my Artistic Close Ups audio visual was to find a home for Images that on their own really do not make a statement, and in my opinion, are not strong enough to stand on their own. “These images were not specifically taken for making an AV. They were taken during my years of trying to create macro images that are more artistic. However, I never had the courage to use them on their own in competitions. “I decided to use them to create an audio visual. But, I used them so that with clever placement a third image is created during the transitions and thereby give more meaning to an otherwise uninteresting image.”

Artistic Close Ups Jeanette du Toit explains why she made Artistic close- One of Jeanette du Toit’ s ‘Artistic Closue Ups’.

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Cape Town Photographic Society

November-December 2015

- 12 Left: The Kat Family by John Spence, the Best Pictorial PDI.

Right: Catch of the Day by Jeanette du Toit, Best Nature PDI.

Members rewarded for work and images The prize-giving evening on December 9th was the last CTPS function for 2015. Several members were honoured at the event, LESLEY PAROLIS reports. Photos: NELLE DU TOIT CLAASSEN

he annual awards function on the 9th December was a very convivial affair with a look back at the year’s anniversary celebrations, members being rewarded and a chance to socialise with snacks and drinks before saying goodbye for the year . Firstly, we were treated to a show of seven audio visual presentations of members’ images taken on the special outings organised for the 125 anniversary celebrations. Robert Maginley certainly put a lot of effort into these AVs and we are grateful to him. It was lovely to be able to reminisce on the past year’s events and we were reminded what a full and rewarding year it has been. The AVs were followed by the awarding of Infinity badges to the members who were promoted to Salon ranking this year. We congratulate Anna Engelhardt, Marius-Lee Pretorius, Vic Els and Mo Bassa. Certificates were then presented to the winners and runners-up in the AV section and the still image section of our society. The winners in the AV section were: • Stella Coram in the Beginner category; • Jeanette du Toit in the Open category; • Hannelore Seifart in the AV Challenge; • Hannelore Seifart won the award for AV maker of the year. The images from the past year’s monthly competitions between October 2014 and September 2015 were separated into the prize categories and sent to judges Peter Brandt (Monochrome prints), Gail Reuvers (Colour prints), Frank Reuvers (Nature PDIs), Leon Oosthuizen (Pictorial PDIs) and Detlef Basel (Portraits). We are grateful to them for giving us their time and expertise in selecting the winning images.

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The winners are as follows: • The Vertue trophy for Best Colour print went to Joan Ward for Tiddler for tea (see p18). • The runner up was Shaun Laishley for Please don’t get up. • The Lawley trophy for Best Monochrome print was awarded to Kim Stevens for Rough diamonds. • Kim’s image Snowy tree grove was the runner up. • The Johannesson trophy for Best Nature PDI went to Jeanette du Toit for Catch of the day. • Ken Woods’ Pelican flight was the runner up. • The Polchet trophy for Best Pictorial PDI was awarded to John Spence for The Kat family and • The runner-up is Kim Stevens’ Arpeggios. • The Best Portrait was adjudged to be Prof Denise Ackerman now and then by Malcolm Jones. • Anna Morris’ portrait of a Young South African opera star was the runner up. There is also a competition for the highest number of points scored in our monthly competitions over the year, both for PDIs, prints, and for the total combined points. • The PDI points winner was Jeanette du Toit with 678 points; • The PDI runner-up was Mo Bassa with 655 points. • The print points winner was Jean Bradshaw with 590 points. • The prints runner-up was Marius-Lee Pretorius with 465 points. • The overall points winner was Kim Stevens with 857 points. • The runners-up were Pat Scott and Jean

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Above: Prof Denise Ackerman by Malcolm Jones, the Best Portrait Below: Rough Diamonds by Kim Stevens, Best Monochrome.

Bradshaw who both scored 842 points. For more details have a look at the results file on the competition page of the website. The evening was rounded off with a cocktail party, catered by Jacoba van Zyl, and we enjoyed each other’s company with a glass of wine or cold drink and delicious snacks.

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November-December 2015 Anna Morris (left) was the runnerup in the Best Portrait category.

Special awards

Above: Hannelore Seifart accepting the CTPS bronze medals she won in the CTPS 125th Anniversary Salon (see p8) from Nicol du Toit. She also won the award for

the AV Maker of the Year, and won the AV challenge.

Past president Detlef Basel this year awarded the prestigious President’s Award for a member who made an exceptional contribution during the previous year to Richard Goldschmidt and Lesley Parolis (above). Joy Wellbeloved was awarded honorary life membership of CTPS, an honour bestowed on a member of 20 years who served the society in some capacity.

Elmara Willis, Hannelore Seifart, Nellian Bekker, Heiner Seifart, Joy Wellbeloved chatting to Lambe Parolis.

John Spence (left) was the winner of the Polchet Trophy for Best Pictorial PDI. . Jeanette du Toit (above) won several awards: the Open category in AV, the The Johannesson trophy for Best Nature PDI and also had the most points in PDI in the monthly competitions.

Malcolm Jones with the personalised certificate, showing his image that won the Best Portrait category.

Joan Ward won the Vertue trophy for the Best Colour print.

Ken Woods (left) was the runnerup in the Nature PDI category. Right: Pat Scott tied with Jean Bradshaw for scoring the second highest points in competitions.

Hier sit die manne: Johan Strydom, Joe Inns, Richard Goldschmidt and Paul Nuttall.

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Cape Town Photographic Society

November-December 2015

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Rankings and promotions

PSSA Entries

The following are the requirements to be promoted from one level to the next: • Beginner to Intermediate: 3 gold awards & 30 points • Intermediate to Advanced: 5 gold awards & 40 points • To Salon: 5 gold & 30 points in club competitions & 30 in salon acceptances / or 50 gold awards. Points awarded in club competitions count as follows: Gold = 3, Silver = 2, Red =1. Salon acceptances = 3 .

Every month we select two images to be entered into the PSSA national Club winners competition. The senior entry (Advanced and Salon) for November, selected by Derick Nel, our judge, was Lesley Parolis’ Misty sunrise near Greyton (see cover and on p2). “An impressive landscape with really good colour and composition,” he said. “This photograph is crisp and has great mood with the early morning mist on the water The coots on the water remind us that there is a reflection. Very well captured.” The junior entry (Beginner and Intermediate) was Paul Nuttall’s image Puzzling is it not (left).

Points needed to get an award Salon Advanced Intermediate Beginner

Gold 24 22 20 18

Silver 20 18 16 14

Red 16 14 12 10

Winning images in November Shadows and Reflections ANNA ENGELHARDT asked our November judge, Derick Nel of Tafelberg Fotografieklub, how he approaches the judging process and what it is that made the winning images stand out for him.

“T

here are so many things that one has to remember and consider before opening one’s mouth to make a comment about someone’s art — and that is really difficult,” says Derick Nel, who kindly agreed to take on the challenge at short notice. “For me, first impressions count. A good photograph is one that will make me sit up, take note and then take another good look to analyse what the photographer has put on offer. “Once an analysis is made, the thought process must be quickly converted into logical sentences that will be positive, informative and without hurting anyone’s feelings. It must also be short and to the point without talking nonsense and/or repeating oneself. So I really hope I did just that. Please remember to take a judge’s re-

mark with a pinch of salt because sometimes a photo may do great with one judge and not so well with another. “On a personal note: Because a large part of judging is subjective, whenever I enter photographs for club competitions, I make a point of finding out who the judge is going to be. “After a few years of entering club competitions, one gets to know all, or most of them, and acquires a feeling of what individual judges look for in a photograph. I think I have a reasonable idea what most judges’ preferences are. “I know it sounds crazy, but if I don’t know the judge, I would even go as far as to google his/her work and try and form an idea by looking at their style, etc. I then enter photos which I think may do well with that particular judge. To p15

Winner PDI Open, Salon: Far far away scape, by Jeanette du Toit. “A very good composition of lines, colour and light,” said

Winner Print Open Salon - The calm of a new day by Pat Scott. “Great tonal range throughout this black and white photograph with excellent composition,” said judge Derick Nel. “The photo is tack sharp and has lots of detail throughout with a good reflection. The blown out area caused by the sun is only slightly distracting and not enough to be a negative point.”

Derick Nel. “I particularly like the mood created by the mist, the soft pastel colours and the line of trees which leads the viewers’ eye to the centre of this landscape. Good capture.”

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Cape Town Photographic Society

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November-December 2015

Left: Winner Print Set Salon Awakening shadows by Jeanette

du Toit. “This photograph is pinsharp throughout and has lots of very good detail and texture on the dunes,” says the judge. “Great diagonal lines, creating depth and leading the viewer into the photo. Excellent use of light and shadows with the warm late afternoon sun.”

Right: Winner Print Set Advanced: Anna Morris - New York reflections. Below: Winner Print Open Advanced: Jennifer Morkel - Protea impression 2

Winner PDI Open, Advanced: Kathy Priday - Misty sunrise.

November judge from p14 ” I would like to thank CTPS for inviting me; it was a privilege to judge your photograps.”

Set subject popular The set subject for November, Shadows and Reflections proved very popular with members and as a result we had a total of 57 entries in the Set subject PDI and print sections, reports LESLEY PAROLIS. There were many very beautiful reflections entered, which indicated how enchanting we as photographers find reflections. We are very grateful to our judge, Derick Nel, who stepped in at the last minute after Justin de Reuck informed us that he could not be present, says Lesley. Rankings: Mo Bassa was promoted to Salon. “Congratulations Mo,” says Lesley. “We look forward to more of your beautiful images. Winner PDI Set Advanced: Mo Bassa – Sunrise at Moyo.

Winner Print Set Beginner: Cape Grace reflections by Mike de Villiers -.

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Winner PDI Open, Intermediate: The beckoning bench by Paul Nuttall .

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Cape Town Photographic Society

November-December 2015

The December PSSA entries

- 16 Every month we select two images to be entered into the PSSA National Club Winners competition. The December and January competitions will be combined as there is no December competition. The senior entry (Advanced and Salon) for December is Pat Scott’s rhino image Run for your life (left) winner of thre Open Print Salon section. The junior entry (Beginner and Intermediate) is Mike de Villiers’ The rain spider (right), the PDI Open Beginner winner.

Winning images in December: Set subject: Rustic The competition held on the 2nd December was the last one for the year and was well attended by members and visitors. The set subject theme was Rustic and the judge for the evening was the ever-popular Stanwell Slater from Fishhoek Photographic Club, reports Lesley Parolis. Stan was accompanied by his wife and fellow photographer Michelle. There were a total of 82 entries, for which he gave 32 gold awards (39% of entries) and 48 silver (59% of entries). There were also 6 red awards. The average score was 22. The highest score, 28, was awarded in the Print Open Salon category to three images: Run for your life by Pat Scott (above), Godfrey Johnston Actor Musician Playwright by Malcolm Jones and Mosque Mosaic by Kim Stevens. He also gave three images a mark of 26: in PDI Open Advanced for Danie Coetzee’s image Grandeur decay; in PDI Open Salon for Monreale Cathedral Sicily by John Spence and Print Open Salon for Misty frosty morning by Lesley Parolis. The Set Subject, Rustic, attracted 20 PDI entries and 10 print entries. Rankings: In December Mike de Villiers was promoted to Intermediate. “Congratulations Mike,” says Lesley. “I’m sure that you will enjoy the new challenge.”

Winner PDI Set Salon: River Fraser bridge Canadian Rockies by Malcolm Jones. The image was taken with a Nikon D200 and 18-200 mm lens. Exposure: 1/160 sec; f/8; ISO 100, set at Aperture Priority , using Matrix metering.

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Set subject themes for 2016 The following set subject themes have been selected for 2016. They can also be found on the Competitions page of the CTPS website January 20th: Animal portraits (load images January 13th) February 3rd: Sport March 2nd:

Night photography

April 6th:

Architecture…forms/ columns/ bridges etc

May 4th:

On stage

June 1st:

High Key photography

July 6th:

Abstract

August 3rd:

Environmental portrait

September 7th: Street photography October 5th: Vertical Scapes (A scape in portrait format) November 2nd: Triptych (a set of 3 distinctly separate images on a common background that fit together or tell a story. December 7th: Slow shutter speed (1+ sec)

Winner Print Set Salon: Rustic gate by Jean Bradshaw. Shot with a Canon 5D Mark III with an 16-35mm lens, 16mm focal lenghth. Exposure: 1/125 sec; f/9; ISO 100, set on Manual and evaluative metering.

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Cape Town Photographic Society

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November-December 2015

Right: Winner PDI Open Salon: Monreale Cathedral Sicily by John Spence. This was taken with a Canon 7D and EF24-105mm lens at 24mm focal length. Exposure: 1/90 sec; f/4.0; ISO 2500.

Below: Winner Print Open Advanced: Cactus flower by Catherine Bruce Wright.

Winner PDI Set Advanced: Rustic gold trade by Karyn Parisi

Winner PDI Open Advanced: Grandeur decay by Danie Coetzee.

Another November winner

Right: Winner Print Set Advanced — Farm fresh by Steffne Hughes Left: November winner PDI Open Beginner – The big wheel by Mike de Villiers.

See more inspiring images

• See more CTPS images and competition entries on our website at www.ctps.co.za. • PSSA website competition: any member can enter an image for the PSSA’s monthly competition at www.pssa. co.za. • The monthly senior and junior club entries in the PSSA club competition can also be seen on their website.

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More members’ salon acceptances Cathy Bruce Wright got an acceptance in the Beachcombers Salon for her image Looking for Angels (Scapes - colour), while Jeanette du Toit added four more salon acceptances to her tally for the year. In the Beachcomber Salon the following of Jeanette’s images got accepted: A Seed Design (Macro-Colour), Ferry Me Across (Open colour) and Reflection N (open Colour). Her image Newly born Lion Whelps was also accepted in the Wildlife (Colour) category of the Middelburg Salon.

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Cape Town Photographic Society

November-December 2015

- 18 Left: Joan Ward receiving the Golden Apple award for the highest total score from Philip de Lange, president of Swartland Fotografie Klub. Right: Joan’s high scoring image ‘Tiddler for Tea’’

Joan Ward is our Interclub winner

While our photographers performed well, CTPS could unfortunately not defend our title at this year’s Interclub competition

oan Ward was undoubtedly CTPS’ star performer at this year’s Interclub competition: she won the Golden Apple award for the photographer with the highest total score, namely 99 for her two prints Tiddler for Tea (50 out of 60) and Making Space (49 out of 60). In the PDI section, Karyn Parisi was our hero with a total of 95 for her images Flamingo Planet (49) and Baby gorilla hands (48), which was the second highest PDI total score — after Johan Beyers of Tafelberg with 97, which included 54 for his winning image, Reaching Up. Karyn’s combined score was 4th highest of all participating photographers in both print and PDI. Lesley Parolis, with a total of 91 (Desert Swirl, 46 and Lighting Up, 45) finished just outside the Top 10. Our entries overall performed very well, but the competition was fierce and CTPS this year unfortunately could not defend the title we won last year: we came jointly second in prints and third overall: Club PDI Prints Total Tygerberg 554 531 1085 Tafelberg 552 526 1078 CTPS 529 526 1055

Five judges This year the organisers, Swartland Fotografie Klub, used five judges who are all very familiar with the club judging system: Malcolm Jones from CTPS, Johan Kloppers from Fish Hoek, Jan Marais from Paarl, Manie Wessels from Tafelberg and Bennie Vivier from Tygerberg. CTPS and Tafelberg refrained from entering any images from their club members who were judging, while the judges who entered images were requested to indicate with either a low or very high score when their own images came up for judging. The lowest scores were discarded, and the high scores rounded off. Another unique aspect of this year’s judging was that the images from a club were judged together. It is not clear how the different judges handled the scoring of images from their own clubs. Judging of images – especially at Interclub – have for many years been a point of contention. And for this reason, several people in the region have been asking that a uniform set of rules be drawn up for judging at Interclub. These rules could, for example, spell out who will be qualified to judge, whether images from the judge may be entered, how judges from participating clubs should score their club’s images and how a total should be calculated. It is argued that if the same rules are applied from competition to competition, this will ease the burden on organisers, as well as judges.

Clear guidelines for judging Without clear guidelines known to — and followed by — all clubs,

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different interpretations can lead to different outcomes. Especially since judges are human, after all, and have their own photographic preferences. For example, if each of the five judges scored on their own, a different club would have been the winner each time: Judge nr 1st place 2nd place 3rd place Judge #1 Tafelberg Tygerberg Fish Hoek Judge #2 Tygerberg Tafelberg Paarl Judge #3 Hermanus Tygerberg Helderberg Judge #4 Fish Hoek Tafelberg Tygerberg Judge #5 CTPS Helderberg Tafelberg While we don’t know which judge corresponds to which number, we have it on good authority that club member Malcolm Jones was not Judge #5, who placed us first.

High and low scorers This is further complicated by the fact that some judges tend to award higher (or lower) scores than others. Judge 5, for example, tended to award lower scores, on average. The total points awarded by the judges were: • Judge #2: 2 544 • Judge #1: 2 496 • Judge #3: 2 467 • Judge #4: 2 431 • Judge #5: 2 420 Therefore, when one judge scores his favourite images 13 or 14 out of 15 and another never goes higher than 12 out of 15, clubs with many images liked by the high-scoring judge would automatically benefit. Conversely, if the low scoring judge liked many images from a club, the average would be lower.

Different outcomes from different applications It also makes a difference how the five scores of the judges are applied. For example, had the top as well as bottom scores been discarded, Paarl would have been joint third with us. The ranking would then have been: 1st Tygerberg (801), 2nd Tafelberg (794), 3rd CTPS and Paarl (776). But, if the scores of all five judges were used as is, Fish Hoek would have been fourth and Paarl 5th, with the top three positions unchanged. And had the club system of averaging the scores of the middle three judges been followed, CTPS and Paarl would have been jointly 3rd, with Fish Hoek in 4th place. And yes, the average CTPS score per image would have been 22 ... as was the case when we used three judges in club competitions!

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November-December 2015

Above: The graph explains Infrared light. Right: The interior of an DSLR camera.

Shooting in the dark

Infrared Photography explained Kate Davies-Benade is a well-known Cape Town photographer who describes herself as a photographer with an intimate sense of art, and a bold affinity for experiment. At our E&D evening in October she shared her knowledge and expertise with us under far from ideal conditions, PAT SCOTT reports.

ver the last few years Kate Davies-Benade experiment- is the VISIBLE light; it is between these wavelengths (400 and 700 ed pretty successfully with Infrared Photography. Her nanometres) that we live, and what our eyes have the capacity to presentation at our E&D evening in October was enti- see naturally. tled Shooting in the Dark, and little did she know that in On the right side of the scale (just above the pink arrow) is the more ways than one we were in the dark! infrared spectrum — a light spectrum where images cannot be capWe arrived at the hall to find that there were no lights: after tured with ordinary cameras/cell phones. phoning around we were told that there was a power failure in the Infrared photography operates in a wavearea, which probably wouldn’t be sorted out length that the naked eye cannot see. This is Images captured using for a few hours. why this type of photography is so interesting Kate arrived, and undauntedly said she’d Infrared light waves have and challenging as well as beautiful because make a plan. Fortunately, she had brought a dream-like, ethereal apone cannot predict the outcome and has no two laptops and used one for her notes and pearance idea of what the image will look like until it is one for her projection. processed, said Kate. The world looks differWith the chairs pulled up close and personal, Kate enthralled us with a most interesting and informative ent in infrared; it has an ethereal and otherworldly feeling – somepresentation on Infrared photography. She happily addressed all thing one can become addicted to. queries about this challenging genre of photography. Infrared photography captures a world illuminated by infrared light, which is part of the colour spectrum that humans normally can’t see, hence the title shooting in the dark. Images captured using these light waves have a dream-like, ethereal appearance, she explained. Kate divided her presentation into three key technical sections, illustrating the theory with her outstanding images.

1. What is Infrared and Infrared photography? Light is measured in wavelengths — it is a spectrum. Visible light (what we can see) is part of a spectrum that also includes many other light rays, including x-rays, ultra violet rays, microwaves, and of course, infrared waves. If you look at the graph above, the rainbow part in the middle

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The Mirror Lake, by Kate Davies-Benade.

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Cape Town Photographic Society

November-December 2015

- 20 ‘Watcha doing Dad?’ is part of Marcus Jooste’s fairyland series.Camera information: Nikon D800, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens, ISO 100, F/9.0, 1/100, three Nikon flashes (two SB-910 and one SB-700) and a full CTO warming filter. A piece of glass with glitter produced good bokeh.

Close up and intimate with Marcus Jooste Marcus Jooste shared his passion of Macro photography at the E & D talk in November through the enchanting adventures of ‘Vincent’ the gastropod, who is acquiring cult status, reports KIM STEVENS. Photos: courtesy of MARCUS JOOSTE

arcus Jooste always had a special interest in nature, particularly butterflies and insects, but it was only in 2014 that he became serious about photography. At the November E&D meeting Marcus talked about his journey into photography, particularly macro, and shared some of the lessons and techniques he has learnt along the way. His skills in macro photography are mainly self-taught. He expanded on how he goes about creating the images using bits and pieces found in and around his garden and home, and how the use of creative lighting brings scenes to life. He stresses that anyone can create macro scenes using imagination and basic props. By definition a macro photograph is an image that appears on the camera sensor as it is in real life; in other words 1:1 or larger. Like all genres of photography, there are some techniques that are particular to macro.

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Many people find macro difficult, however, if a few of the basics are right, the creative opportunities are endless. In terms of equipment one can start with a basic macro lens and then experiment with other pieces of equipment such as dioptres (magnifying lenses), reversing lenses, extension tubes, specialised ultra-

Much thought goes into what type of props, colours, backgrounds, lighting and narrative to use. macro lenses (such as the Canon MP-E 65) and even go as far as using microscope objectives to achieve magnification of 10x or greater. The use of speed lights (flash) and other light sources is important, particularly for extreme macro. He stresses that if one wants to work with insects, butterflies, bees and arthropods, it

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is important to get to know the behaviour of the creatures in order to achieve the images one envisages. Much thought goes into what type of props, colours, backgrounds, lighting and narrative to use. Marcus will first create a mini set, either indoors or outdoors, and arrange all the compositional components such as water, mushrooms, leaves, flowers; as well as experiment with the lighting and background to get the right shadows, depth of field, bokeh (the out of focus light points in the background) etc. Only then are the stars of the show introduced, who are allowed to do their own thing, says Marcus. “Sometimes it works out as planned, sometimes entirely differently and sometimes better. Most often it fails, when I pack up and give Vincent some lettuce for his troubles.” Vincent is a common garden snail (or several) around which Marcus has cre-

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November-December 2015

Infrared from p19

2. How to shoot in Infrared: is there a need for a special camera?

Marcus created the following story about this image, titled ‘Little Sybil’: “Sybil is Vincent and his wife, Violet’s, daughter. She is the second born. It’s the first night that she was left alone in the nursery and is yearning and calling for her parents. Violet wanted to go to her but Vincent was all about tough love that long night.” Camera information: Nikon D800, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens, ISO 100, f/8, 1/125 sec with two off-camera speed lights, both gelled green.

Most DSLRs can be modified to shoot in infrared and there are various ways of doing it. The technical image above shows the interior of a normal DSLR, where the sensor sits at the back, recording the image you shoot; on top of that is the infrared and UV absorption glass, then a low pass filter and support material in the front that holds everything together. The first part of the modification process is to remove the piece of glass that absorbs the infrared and UV rays (do not try this at home, rather take it to a professional). Suddenly, you have a camera that can capture infrared rays. However, the camera now also captures the regular 400-700 nm rays in addition to the infrared rays. To correct this, requires the addition of a filter that fits onto the lens, such as a 715 nm filter that captures wavelengths of 715 nm. Unfortunately, this filter is 90% opaque — the reason why this article is named shooting in the dark. To add to this, one cannot shoot on Autofocus because the infrared filter shifts the AF about 10-15 mm and one has to focus manually — while not being able to see much! It is fun and teaches patience because one has to go to the same places over and over again, because the focus just wasn’t right. The last big part of this process is post production because the final in-camera image is reddish/pink and that is not what is wanted.

3. Post Production

According to Marcus the story behind this ‘Midas’ image is as follows: “The Midas snail has turned his kingdom into gold and is gazing upon the only remaining thing of natural beauty, which he knows he can’t touch.” Camera information: Nikon D800, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 lens, ISO 100, F/9.0, 1/100, three Nikon flashes (two SB-910 and one SB-700) and a full CTO warming filter. His props were a bowl of water and a gold dress as backdrop. A piece of glass with glitter produced good bokeh

Marcus Jooste and Vincent from p20 ated various humorous and very creative narratives, for which he builds miniature sets. Vincent has, for example, gone to the moon, courted Violet, who became his wife and bore him two children, Cedric and Sybil, who have their own scenarios, etc. Marcus’ work has featured recently on

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the Wild Card blog and the GO/WEG magazine. He was also a presenter at the prestigious Wild Shots Wildlife Photography Symposium held in Cape Town in October 2015. See more about Marcus and Vincent’s family at www.wildcard.co.za/blog. or Marcus Jooste on Google Plus.

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Many people get stuck at this point. There are so many tutorials available that cover this subject, but they are all different and each one leads to a different result, causing a fair amount of frustration. There are three important procedures required to finish off an infrared photograph: a. White Balance: We are all familiar with using a grey card to white balance before editing, except with Infrared photography we need to use something green to white balance (i.e. a tree works the best). b. Auto Tone: In Photoshop go to Image – select Auto Tone. c. Channel swap: Go to Channel Mixer in Photoshop and switch the red and blue channels. While in the red output channel, adjust red to 0% and blue to 100%; in the blue output channel, adjust red to 100% and blue to 0%. Now you have your edited infrared image. After this you can use your own discretion to edit further, using levels, curves etc.

Cape Town Photographic Society

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November-December 2015

The image Paul Bruins used to introduce his talk at the Western Cape judging workshop in October, as well as his two images left, exemplify his work. Below: Marc Adamus, Heaven on Earth.

Landscape Photography:

Striving for Perfection MARGARET COLLINS reports about the October 2015 workshop for Western Cape club members on judging landscape photography, presented by Paul Bruins.

ew active club members will need an introduction to the passionate local landscape photographer and civil engineer Paul Bruins. Always generous with his time, Paul gave a presentation at the 125th Anniversary Mini Congress at De Hoop in May 2015, and was a judge at the CTPS club competition in September 2015. The image Paul used on the introductory slide at the Western Cape judging workshop in October (see above), as well as his images above, exemplifies his work. He enjoys symmetry and pays great attention to detail, including great light, strong lines and shapes, mood and a sense of place. Self-taught, Paul advocates studying the work of others, and shared not only his own work, but that of photographers he admires, follows and who provide inspiration. In the 18th century landscape photographers such as Eadweard Muybridge and Carleton Watkins used the wet plate collodion process to document the natural environment. Huge 16x20 inch glass plates had to be carefully exposed and processed in the field before the emulsion dried: about

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fifteen minutes!

Pioneers of landscape photography The hugely influential Ansel Adams (1902 - 1984) helped to define the entire genre of landscape photography. He advocated sharply-detailed purist photography, and together with Fred Archer he developed the zone system for identifying correct exposure and contrast.

He takes three aspects into account: what he likes most, what he likes least and what he thinks needs to be done to improve the image He also introduced the idea of pre-visualisation, the process of visualising an image in his mind and setting out to achieve it by combining composition, filters and skills as a developer. Eliot Porter (1901 - 1990) is generally re-

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garded as one of the best nature/landscape photographers of all time. Author of the book In Wilderness is the Preservation of the World (1962), he used his photography to promote conservation by making people aware of nature's beauty, without compromising his artistic goals. Based in the American West David Muench (1926 - ) is awed by the magnificence of nature. What matters to him informs his photography, which shows places he is passionate about.

Current landscape masters Under Current Masters of Landscape Photography, Paul highly ranks work by Marc Adamus, whom he calls “one of the most influential professionals in modern history” and Dutch adventure and mountain photographer Max Rive, who enjoys adding the challenge of including himself in his images.

Judging landscape photography For Paul, award-winning landscapes have the following characteristics: • The primary subjects and overall theme

Cape Town Photographic Society

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November-December 2015

Ansel Adams, 1942. Tetons and the Snake River. Above: David Muench, 1989. Wilson Arch, Winterscape, Utah Below: Max Rive, Blinded.

Eadweard Muybridge, 1872. The Pompons, Valley of the Yosemite.

of the image is obvious and unambiguous. • If the subject is a popular landmark, the image should be creative with an element of originality. • The most appealing images are those where the subject is highlighted through delicate intervals of sunlight, or other metrological elements (clouds, rainbow, lightning, etc.) • The image is delicately shaded or rich in colour, without appearing faded or oversaturated • Compositions are balanced and harmonious, with no distracting elements that do not form an integral part of the subject or story. When Paul judges a landscape image, he takes three aspects into account: what he likes most, what he likes least and what he thinks needs to be done to improve the image. The questions he asks are: 1. Does the image fall into the landscape genre? People, animals and man-made objects may be included, but the primary elements should be natural. 2. Is the image “Fine Art”? • Does the image evoke some emotion (beauty, admiration, humour, intrigue,

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pity… or cold!) • Is there an unambiguous primary subject and/or message, and is this really necessary? • Is the image free of technical flaws that would distract from the essence of the image? 3. Technical flaws: 10 points to consider • Is the primary subject sharp and in focus? • Is it correctly exposed without blown highlights, or clipped shadows? • Does the composition include too much empty space with no meaningful content? • Are significant elements cut off, or do they extend beyond the borders of the frame? • Are all significant elements adequately exposed to show textures and/or fine detail? • Is the image free of inaccurate colour tones (e.g. unnaturally faded or greentinted skies)? • Do colours appear oversaturated, or exaggerated? • Does the image appear natural and believable (not over-processed)? • Is the image free of distractions such as off-putting glare, reflections, motionblur, etc.? • Horizons MUST be level.

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4. Does the image evoke a sense of awe and wonderment, which returns each time the photograph is viewed? 5. Consider the composition, which may include: • Arrangement of the elements (balance) • Negative space around the elements • The Rule of Thirds or the Golden Ratio • Simplicity • Objects in motion • Implied lines or physical lines, which may be horizontal and vertical; converging; primary and secondary diagonals; zigzag; s-curve; parallel • Framing • Harmonious and complementary colours The formal presentation ended with Paul guiding a discussion in which 10 of his own images were judged on these criteria; an effective way of getting the group to engage with the topic. He notes that photographic art is subjective: Not all judges will be equally impressed by an image; and most judges will admit to certain biases. He therefore recommends that photographers keen on winning competitions consider improving their odds by diversifying the type of photos.

Cape Town Photographic Society

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November-December 2015

Exciting outings in store for 2016

RICHARD GOLDSCHMIDT, our outings convenor, has put together a plan for the coming year and if we base expectations on our past experiences when he was in charge, we will be in for a great and exciting time!

Richard Goldschmidt says he has tried to coordinate some members as they offer varied and most rewarding photo opportuof the outings planned for 2016 with the competition themes of nities,” says Richard. the following month, such as Sport, Night photography, On Stage, All the other monthly outings will be morning or afternoon acStreet Photography and Vertical Scapes. tivities, and some will be led —hopefully! — by presenters of “We shall attempt to adhere to the dates our Education and Development evenings. A given below, but detailed planning closer to The first outing is on Jan- great deal of flexibility of times can be built the time may necessitate a date/time, or ininto these outings to suit individual members. deed, an outing change,” he says. “However, uary 2nd to photograph “For instance, if you cannot enjoy a full we encourage members to enter the dates of the Minstrel Carnival weekend away at Betty’s Bay, then you could the outings now in their diaries to allow for meet us there just for the day. Likewise, if long-term planning. you don’t want to catch the sunrise or sunset “Two weekends away have been included, the first being to Bet- on any of the other outings you can simply adjust the time to suit ty’s Bay on the 19th and 20th March and the second to Greyton yourself,” he says. on the 17th and 18th September — at the height of the flowering A full list of outings and dates will be put onto our website, but in Canola fields. We hope that both events will be fully supported by the meantime here are some of the preliminary details:

Date

Time

Location

2nd January

11h00 – 14h00

Minstrel Carnival: meet corner Keizersgracht and Vogelsang streets.

16th January

15h00 – 19h00

Killarney Race Track followed by Big Bay surfing and sunset.

20th February

19h00 – 22h00

Night walk around the V&A Waterfront.

19/20th March

Sat/Sunday

Betty’s Bay - penguins/Harold Porter Reserve/ beaches/ rivers.

16th April

to be adviced

Artscape performance practice or Zip Zap Circus.

14th May

to be adviced

Visit to Spier to photograph birds in flight.

18th June

06h00 – 17h00

Colourful vineyards in the Hex River and also the Hexpas Train trip.

24th July

06h00 – 10h00

Muizenberg sunrise, then walk along coast to St James – steam train passing

14th August

08h00 – 11h00

Woodstock or City or Bo Kaap walk.

17/18th Sept

Sat/Sunday

Greyton, Canola fields, Grenadendal tour.

16th October

11h00 – 17h00

Vergelegen picnic : landscapes, gardens, architecture, winery.

20th November 16h00 – 19h00

Hout Bay harbour environs and perhaps Seal Island.

Mullers share our Anniversary Mullers optometrist, which also turned 125 this year, invited CTPS to exhibit some of our old photographs to open their Gallery on the First Thursday in December, the same day as our Salon Exhibition opened in the City Library. Part of the invitation is left. Pat Scott, who arranged our 125th Anniversary Exhibition at the ArtScape earlier this year, loaned them a selection of the photographs taken by older members for the exhibition.

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Cape Town Photographic Society